Self-heating branding-iron.



No. 690,97l.

Patented lan. I4, |902. M. A. LOWE.

SELF HEATING BRANDING IRUN.

(Application led Sept. 27. 1901.)

2 Sheets--Sheet l.

(No Model.)

No. 690,97I. Patented Ian. I4, |9lD2.

M. A. LUWE.

SELF HEATING BRANDING IRUN.

` (Application led Sept. 27, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 2.

llnirirnn Sterns errar lrrrcn.

MARVEL AVANDER LOWE, OF MARFA, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO MAGGIE GILBERT MCOULLOOH, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SELF-HEATING BRANDING-IRON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,971, dated January 14, 1902. Application lcd September 27, 1901. Serial No. 76,774. (No model.)

To ca ZZ w/"wm t may concern:

Be it known that I, MARVEL AVANDER LOWE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Marta, in the county of Presidio and State of Texas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Heating Branding-Irons; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the invention, such as will enable othro ers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

I5 This invention relates to improvements in self-heating branding-irons- The object of the invention is to produce a device of this character whereby the branding-iron maybe heated by means of oil, gasozo iene, or any suitable analogous substance,

which is carried by a cylindrical handle portion or reservoir, to which the iron is connected.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the oil or gasolene may be fed to the burner under pressure, thus insuring a constant and even feed, the amount being regulated by a suitable cock and the heat generated by the flame increased or di- 3o minished, as may be required.

A further object of the invention is to provide a brandingiron which is detachably connected toasuitable heating-drum secured to the cylindrical oil-receptacle, so that the said brand may be removed when it is desired to replace it with a brand of another character or design.

The invention further consists in 'the novel construction and combination of parts,as will 4o be set forth in the accompanying specification, and particularly pointed outv in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, Figure lis a perspective viewof theimproved branding-iron. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the end of the oil-tube carrying the branding-iron and parts connected therewith. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the other end of the oil- 5o tube, showing the pump for compressing the air in said tube. Fig. Llis a side elevation of the parts constituting the branding-iron and heating mechanism,showinga hood surrounding the said parts. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the form of hood shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. Gis a perspective view of the detachable branding-iron.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral l indicates the brand, which may be in the form of a single letter or nu- 6o meral or a combination of letters or numerals or any preferred design, as may be desired. The brand is secured in anysuitable manner to a plate 2, the under side of which is provided adjacent to its circumference with depending ears 8 and 3, as shown in Fig. 6. The ears 3 have a slight inward inoline, while the ear 3 is at right angles to the plate 2 and is provided with a threaded aperture, which receives a set-screw 3b. 7o

The plate 2, to which the brand is secured, is attached to a heating-drum 4, which is made in the form of an inverted truncated cone, the ears 3 of said plate engaging the periphery of the drum, while the set-screw 3b in the ear 8 acts in conjunction with the ears 3 to securely clamp the plate upon the top of the drum, as shown. The drum is secured above and to the upper end ot an oilreceiving reservoir S by brackets 5 and 6, 8o which are attached to the drum and to lugs 5a and C, which project from opposite sides of a cap 7, secured upon the upper end of said reservoir, as will fully appear. The bracket 5 consists of a rod, the lower end of 85 which enters a recess in the lug 5, where it is rigidly secured in any suitable manner, while the upper end is enlarged and provided with an aperture, through which a screw 5b passes, which engages a threaded 9o opening in the drum. The bracket 6 is tubular and serves to convey the oil or gasolene to the burner, as will be shown. The lower end of this bracket or tube is threaded and engages a recess in the lug 6 opening into a 95 counterbore 6b, which receives a tube 6c, which enters the upper end of the oil-reservoir S and is provided with a short depending tube 6d, as shown. The upper end of the bracket 6 is provided with an integral tuburoo lar member 6c, which inclines at an angle corresponding to that of the flared periphery of the drum 4, to which it is attached. The member 6e extends a suitable distance below the drum, where it joins a horizontal tubular member (if, which connects with a burner A. The burner A consists of a short tube, the upper end of which is provided with a very small hole h, while the lower end is internally threaded and receives a threaded rod C, which at its lower end is provided with a hand-'wheel D, While its upper end is pointed, as at E, to enter the hole B, as shown in Fig. 2. A jam-nut fon rod C contacts with the lower end of the burner-tube A and limits the upward movement of the rod. The pointed end E regulates the flow of oil or gasolene when the hand-wheel D is turned or shuts off the supply entirely when desired. The burner is braced by a support I, which is secured to it and to the bottom of the drum.

.Inst above the burner-tube A and secured to a disk which forms the bottom of the heating-drum 4 is a tube G, which forms a chimney for the flame and directs it into the drum. The heat generated by the flame passes up through the plate 2 into the hollow letter or character forming the brand, which is provided with a number of small holes 1L to induce a proper draft and to permit the escape of any smoke. The burner-tube near its lower end is provided with a drip-cup H, which is designed to catch the overflow oil or any residuurn which may collect while the implement is in operation.

The oil-reservoir 8 consists of a metal tube, which is of sufficient length to hold a quantity of oil or gasolene. The upper end is closed by the cup 7, as before stated, and the lower end is threaded externally and receives a threaded cap 9, to which the handle 10 is secured. The handle 10 has a cylindrical bore, in which is fitted an ordinary air-pump l1, the upper end of which is secured within an opening formed in the cap 9 and is provided with the usual valve 12. The piston 13 and rod 14 are of the common type, and the free end of the rod is provided with a grasping portion 15, which when the rod is pushed in forms an ornamental end to the handle 10. A notch 16 is formed on one side of the grasping portion 15, which is engaged by a spring-catch 17, secured to the handle 10, so that the rod 14 may be held within the pump-cylinder and out of the way of the operator when not in use.

The reservoir 8 carries a piston 18, which is inserted after the reservoir has been supplied with a sufficient quantity of oil or gasolene and is designed to move toward the upper end of the reservoir under pressure of air from the air-pump 11, thus forcing the oil toward the feed end of the reservoir and insuring a constant and even feed to the burner. The bolt which secures the parts of the piston 18 together is provided with an eye 19, to which a chain 2O is attached and by which the piston 18 may be withdrawn from the upper end of the reservoir 8 when it is desired to refill the same.

In order to insure a proper draft to the burner and to prevent the flame from being extinguished should the implement be used when the wind is high, a hood 21 is provided, which fits around the bottom of the drum 4 and incloses the burner. A lug 22 projects from one side of this hood, which has a circular opening 23, designed to inclose the bracket 5, and a threaded opening, which receives the thumb-screw 24, by means of which the hood is held in its normal position or permitted to be slid down in order that access may be had to the burner. The bottom of the hood is provided with a circular opening 25, which is slightly greater than the diameter of the dripcup H. This opening furnishes air to the burner and permits the hood to be slid below the drip-cup H, as will clearly appear by reference to Fig. 2. A slot 26 is formed in the wall of the hood opposite to the lug 22, and this slot overlies the member 6e of the bracket 6 when the hood is in position.

In Fig. 4 a different form'of hood is shown, consisting of a metal cylinder 27, which extends from the upper end of the reservoir 8 to a point slightly beyond the face of the branding-iron, inclosing the same and all the mechanism connected with the heating thereof. This hood 27 is designed to have a sliding movement upon the reservoir 8, and to this end the diaphragm forming the bottom is provided centrally with a depending neck 28, the circumference of which is the same as that of the reservoir, which it surrounds and upon which it slides. A helical spring 29 encircles the neck 28 and bears upon the bottom of the cylinder and upon a collar 30, which is secured upon the reservoir 8 by a thumb-screw 31. mally held so that its upper end will be beyond the face of the brand, and excessive upward movement thereof is prevented by the cap 7 on the upper end of the reservoir, which acts as a shoulder against which the bottom of the hood abuts. The periphery of the hood, at the lower end thereof, is provided with a plurality of perforations 32, and the diaphragrn forming the bottom is also perforated, as shown at 33, and these perforations admit air to the burner. In order that access may be vhad to the burnerA and hand-wheel D, the hood is provided with a sliding door 34, which normally covers an opening 35 in the said hood, through which the lingers may be inserted to manipulate the hand-wheel or light the burner. This hood 27 not only protects the branding-iron and burner, but prevents the flame from being accidentally extinguished. In branding an animal with this form of device the upper end of hood 27 first comes in contact with the animal, and by pressing the brand forward the hood will slide uponthe reservoir 8 and permit the face of the brand to come in contact with the The hood 27 is thus nor- IOI) IIO

animal, as will be fully understood. When this form of hood is used, the heating-drum 4: may be provided with openings or windows da; but when the form of hood shown in Fig. 2 is used the openings or windows et may be dispensed with.

The operation of this improved brandingiron is as follows: The cap 9, to which the handle 10 is secured, is removed by unscrewing the handle 10 at the cap 9 and piston 18 withdrawn by means of chain 20, after which the reservoir 8 is supplied with oil or gasolene and the piston 18 inserted. The cap 9, carrying the handle 10, is then screwed upon the reservoir, and by operating the air-pump 11 the piston 18 is moved forward and the oil or gasolene forced to the discharge end of the reservoir, where it escapes through tube 6 into tube GC, thence through tubes 6, 6C, and Gf to the burner A, where its iiow is regulated or shut oft by the pointed end E of rod C, which enters the burner-opening B. Ihen the oil is ignited at the opening B, the heat therefrom passes up through the chimney G into the drumd and thence to the hollow letter or character forming the brand 1, which is thereby heated to a sufficient temperature for the purpose required.

Having thus fully described my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction shown in the drawings, as many modifications in design and construction may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of a hollow brandingiron, a heating-drum to which the said iron is detachably secured and an oil-burner located beneath the same; a cylindrical reservoir which carries at its upper end, arms or brackets, which support the said drum, one of the arms or brackets being tubular, and having connection at one end with the burner, and at its other end with the reservoir; and a pump by means of which the oil in the reservoir is conveyed to the burner under pressure, substantially as shown.

2. In combinationwith a hollow brandingiron, a heating-drum to which the saidiron is removably secured and an oil-burner located beneath the same carrying a cup and means for governing the iiow of the oil; a cylindrical reservoir,the upper end of which carries arms or brackets which support the drum, one of said arms or brackets being tubular and having connection at one end with the burner, and at the other end with the reservoir; an air-pump secured to the lower end of the reservoir, and a piston Within the reservoir, interposed between the air-supply and the oil, which serves, when the air behind it is compressed to move the body of oil forward and deliver it to the burner under pressure, substantially as shown.

3. In combination with a hollow brandingiron, a drum, to the top of which the said iron is removably secured, while from the bottom depends a flue; and an oil-burner located on a line with, and adjacent to the iiue, carrying a cock for controlling the iiow of oil; a cylindrical reservoir, the upper end of which carries arms or brackets which support the drum, one of said arms or brackets forming an oiltube, and connecting at one end with the burner and at the other with the reservoir; a removable hood surrounding the lower end of the drum and inclosing the burner; an airpump secured to the lower end of the reservoir; and a piston within the reservoir interposed between the air-supply and the oil, which serves, when the air behind is compressed, to move the body of oil forward, and deliver it to the burner under pressure, said piston carrying a chain for withdrawing the same from the upper end of the reservoir, substantially as shown.

4. Abranding implement comprising a hollow branding-iron, a drum to which the said iron is removably secured, an oil-burner located beneath the drum; an oil-reservoir carrying at its upper end brackets which support the said drum, one of which is tubular and connects with the burner and with the reservoir; and an air-pump secured to the lower end of the reservoir; in combination with a cylindrical hood which extends beyond the face of the branding-iron and incloses the same and parts connected therewith, the lower end of which encircles the upper end of the reservoir upon which it slides a helical spring being interposed between the bottom of the drum and a collar carried by the reservoir, so that the drum may slide upon the reservoir against the action of the spring substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARVEL AVANDER LOWE. Witnesses:

Il. M. MORELAND, OWEN B. SHIELDs.

IOO 

